Today we’d like to introduce you to Lexx Chandler.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Born in East St. Louis, I moved to Dallas young before my younger four siblings were born and started my athletic career. I began with gymnastics, then soccer and football, which turned into track and cross country and finally basketball. Before I knew it, I was the oldest of 5 kids and juggling 4 sports at a time during any given season and being a big sister. This left me with little free time. However, in the few moments I had to myself away from sports and other responsibilities, I found myself doodling and almost finding solace in the art I was creating. It was a form of expression that became addicting. No judgement, no rules, no restrictions, just me, a paper and something I could write with. I had no formal training, and I was in athletics over art classes, so I really had to teach myself. I would eat lunch with the art teacher and check out ‘How To Draw…’ books from the library, just anything to help me get better.
Entering high school brought more responsibilities and pressure to further excel in my top sports, Basketball and Track. I needed a plan for college and life after graduation. In talking with counselors, coaches, parents and other trusted adults, I was generally told my art wasn’t a viable option for my future. I was crushed, but there was no room for failure. Life goes on. So I turned all of attention to my main sports focusing primarily on basketball, now only doodling in my textbooks or on my notes.
Being the oldest there was immense pressure to succeed and be an example for my younger siblings. You know, get good grades, be a great student athlete, get a scholarship and go to college to further my education. To be the best in the areas I wanted to lead in took a lot of time, late nights and early mornings. It paid off. I received a full ride scholarship to play basketball for GW and I was headed to D.C.
Now freshman year of college in general is tough, but being a student-athlete taking on a max course load was taxing. Overwhelmed and running on fumes I reverted to my safe space and started drawing again. In the locker room in between classes, at study hall, on the bus/planes to games, just wherever I could. I was getting back to basics and doing something that made me feel free and at peace. One day my college teammate saw me drawing and yelled at me in surprise “YOU CAN DRAW!?” I naturally hid the image because I felt I wasn’t the best at drawing since I was self-taught and hadn’t practiced in years. I ended up reluctantly sharing since she wouldn’t drop the issue. To my surprise, her response was so energetic. She was supportive and said “Girl, you can draw, you should do tattoos!”
I thought to myself… “Tattoo!? I can barely draw. This is just for fun! Besides, I was raised in a household where you do NOT get tattoos.” So, I shrugged it off, giving it no thought. Little did I know my teammate had already started spreading the word! Before I knew it athletes of all sports at my university were asking me to design their tattoos so they could show the artists at the shops what they wanted. By the end of my freshman year, it became my side hustle. I was the person you hit up to get a tattoo design prepared for tattoo shops, turning their ideas into images. It didn’t make me tons of money, but it was more than I had, and I enjoyed it.
After I graduated, I still hadn’t considered becoming a tattoo artist myself. I had bigger fish to fry! I needed to find a job and be an adult in the real world, there was no time for art. It wasn’t until the adult world knock me clean on my behind and had me in D.C., a broke graduate trying to figure out what I want to do for myself, in my life, for my future! So, I made the decision to move back to Dallas. No money, no job, no apartment, no real plan other than if I am going to start over, it might as well be at home.
I moved backed to Dallas in May of 2018 with $15 in my account, my two dogs and my life in UHAUL. It wasn’t easy, but I was at the bottom and had nothing to lose. I faced every struggle there was to face and hit the lowest place I had ever been. By the time July rolled around I had found a temporary job, but I was still so unhappy, lost and confused. I was driving down Buckner through Pleasant Grove, commuting to another couch to stay on, and I just started to question everything I was doing in my life and what my purpose was. That’s when I saw a Tattoo Supply store, so I pulled over and went in just because, why not?
That day, I walked out with a tattoo beginner kit and the rest was history. I started studying, practicing, watching videos, asking artists online for advice, going into to local shops, getting back into drawing and getting better in my craft. I was doing whatever I could to increase my knowledge and grow as an artist. I had to learn how to run a business and gain confidence in myself since I had been told I couldn’t make money with art and that is exactly what I did.
My greatest “regret” is that I didn’t take the chance in college when I had a captive clientele, but God’s timing really was perfect. I realize that I would have never taken the chance on tattooing if I wasn’t at rock bottom and there was so much personal growth taking place in my lowest of lows that prepared me for what He had in store. Even today, there still is a lesson and chance for me to grow and I am just beyond grateful for that opportunity!
When I reflect, everything happened for a reason. Focusing on athletics gave me the chance to go to college and meet the teammate that that sparked the idea. Losing everything and return to Dallas gave me the push to take a chance and bet on me doing something that I have always found peace in. Being back in Dallas, continuing to play basketball while chasing my artistic dreams, has given me relationships that have supported and built up my business from scratch – primarily by word of mouth.
My story isn’t anything special, but it’s mine and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love the journey I’ve been on because it has made me, well, me. I am strong, I am resilient, I am BLESSED…and I am Jelly of Jellyfish Red Tattoos!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I sort of gave my full story with the obstacles in the previous question, but my main obstacles were:
1) Being a black female in a white male dominated industry:
it was extremely challenging to find a shop that would let me ask questions on how to run tattoo business and let me know I was on the right path in the profession and get an apprenticeship, but I am grateful for the ones I did end up finding that helped me tremendously!
2) Learning the culture and How To Tattoo:
I got overwhelmed since tattooing is it’s own world and has a vast history, supplies and techniques that I needed to learn in order to be good. It was like going back into college and picking a new major to focus on and become well versed in.
3) Self Doubt: My age, joining the business late and just rekindling my artistic commitment all while comparing and trying to learn how to become a solid artist had me second guessing myself.
4) Tattooing Styles and All Complexions:
I am still learning across the board because I want to continue to improve but learning all of the styles and how to apply them to varying skin complexions has been a love hate relationship because it takes a lot of practice. Mind you this is on top of just learning how to tattoo (apply the tattoo on skin in general)
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
To be quite honest, I am not known for any one style. I do have my own style that is just now starting to become recognized by my clients, but right now I’m known for all things art. If it’s artistic people assume I do it and they’re not wrong. I tattoo, draw, paint, make logos, murals, create clothing, and custom items. So I would say the most consistent thing about me and my art is I express in every way I can and am still learning new ways that I can do that. The best description of me would be “Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one”
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love that I am always discovering new things to do and places to visit. Even when I return the my norms and areas I grew up in I am able to see it in a new light and get new inspiration from the city! But, respectfully, my all time favorite thing is the skyline at night! It just does something to me, it’s just so mesmerizing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jellysworld___/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jellysworld___?_t=ZT-8vYx187vtBy&_r=1
Image Credits
Personal Photo: @babeelenz on instagram
